cheap and hacker friendly plug and cable system
draufunddran wrote 01/02/2025 at 10:11 • 1 pointDoes anyone have a suggestion on hacker friendly plug and cable systems? I want to create weather station central box with different sensors connected to it. I could just hardwire them but I want to have I semi modular and remove and plug different sensor to the box. Does anybody have any suggestions?
Thanks in advance!
Flo
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I would just use terminal blocks - think the kind that have a PCB-side receptacle connector and a removable plug with screw terminals. They have a more secure fit than Dupont headers, no crimping tools required, and they're common/relatively cheap on Digi-Key.
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I vote for RJ-45.
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0.1" header pins are most common for the hobbyist, and cheap to obtain, but not always the most reliable connection. I like JST-GH for the locking, and small size! You can see some example part numbers used in this connector standard: https://bluerobotics.com/learn/wl-connector-standard/#ethernet-10100
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Depending on who will do the plugging/unplugging, the most user friendly way would be USB-C ports and cables. Even non-technical people know how to use them and won't screw up orientation.
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People will propably hate me for that (long distance I2C yadda yadda i know), but i would stay with something like a JST-PH connector and using an adafruit pinout.
I built some sort of vending machine once just daisychaining everything together (plus extra power via XA-connectors). Also these cables are common and realtively cheap and you can combine them with lots of existing sensor modules.
Or just use screw terminals.....
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